BME Graduate Programs

The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) was established at UAB in 1979 and the Master of Science degree (M.S.B.M.E.) was approved. A short time later, in 1983, the Ph.D. degree (Ph.D.B.M.E) was approved. As a young program it has seen dramatic growth in size and quality since its founding. In the late 1980s, there were four faculty members in the Department of Biomedical Engineering; today 13 faculty members have primary appointments in the department.

The BME department has developed a strong record of extramurally funded interdisciplinary research with emphasis in the areas of biomaterials, biomechanics, biomedical imaging, biomedical implants, cardiac electrophysiology, computational biology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. More than 40 faculty from Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering, Arts & Sciences and Optometry hold secondary appointments in BME and mentor our 40+ graduate students. BME secondary faculty members teach BME courses, give seminars and lectures to BME students, and serve as thesis advisor or mentor to BME students.

Research is multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary, and many research opportunities are available through our ongoing collaborations with the Medical and Dental schools. The BME department provides students with real-world experience, cutting-edge research opportunities, industry co-ops, and internships. Today over 60 UAB scientists and engineers are working collaboratively with BME faculty and students to develop the next generation of biomedical engineering technologies.

D.M.D./Ph.D ProgramThe UAB School of Dentistry offers a D.M.D./Ph.D. Program, preparing students for an exciting career in dental academics through an innovative integrated clinician scientist training program. Students in the program are allowed to apply credits earned in both dental and graduate school toward a specialized program earning both a D.M.D. degree and a Ph.D. degree in a biomedical science. The Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. Program is a participating program in UAB’s D.M.D./Ph.D. Program.

In May 2012, Forbes listed biomedical engineering as the top major most worth your tuition, time and effort. In October 2012, CNNMoney listed biomedical engineering atop it's list of the "best jobs in America." Analysts at PayScale, a compensation research firm, compared its database with 120 college majors and job growth projections through 2020 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the 15 most valuable majors in the current marketplace. Ranked by median starting pay, median mid-career pay (at least 10 years in), growth in salary and wealth of job opportunities, biomedical engineering came in at No. 1 on the list. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 61.7 percent growth of job opportunities in the field, the most of any other major on the list.

FACILITIESOur facilities are located in the heart of the UAB campus, just blocks away from the UAB Medical Center and Dental School. Faculty occupy approximately 20,000 sq. ft of modern, well-equipped laboratory spacein the Hoehn Engineering Building, Volker Hall, the Worrell Research Building, the Business and Engineering Complex, and the Shelby Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building.

HONORSUAB has earned the highest Carnegie classification: “Very High Research Activity”, which puts it among only 95 research universities in the US and in the top 20 in the United States in Federal funding. In 2008, UAB was rated one of the top five “Best Places to Work” by The Scientist Magazine. Currently, Princeton Review ranks UAB in the top 15% of Colleges and Universities, plus ranks the university at #4 in Student Diversity.